18 Years

18 years ago on a hot summer day Marty and I got married. The years have been filled with good times and bad, but like I tell my daughter, it's been an adventure! I realized this weekend that I have now lived with Marty longer than I lived at home with my parents. Now THAT realization made me feel old!!!




We sent Heather off to youth camp with a church group yesterday so we have an empty nest this week. Last night we drove to San Marcos for dinner and to wonder around along the river.

We dined outside the restaurant on the patio overlooking the river and this was our view during dinner:

After dinner we walked around the park and enjoyed a very pretty sunset. More of the photos of the sunset will be posted in the days ahead.

Happy Anniversary Babe!

To see my fireworks photos visit my Seguin blog.

Sights and Sounds...How San Marcos Does Christmas

Until yesterday I'd never even heard of "Sights and Sounds," a Christmas Festival in San Marcos, TX. Our friends Jason and Erica were going to be there with their kiddos. Jason had to work a booth for part of the evening but then would be free to join his family for some fun. They asked us to meet them over there when we got off work this evening. We actually had an evening with no plans so we decided to join them.

There were Christmas lights everywhere, and carnival rides, and food, food and more food. (Jason was helping man a booth for the San Marcos police department and they were selling fried oreos, fried cookie dough and fried snickers! I'd never heard of or tried any of them. Although each was pretty rich, they were actually pretty good!) There were performances throughout the park on various stages. And people EVERYWHERE! We walked around just looking at everything there was to see as Jason was the only one of us to have ever been there. We rode some carnival rides. I don't recall ever riding carnival rides in December....let alone riding them with Christmas lights on display everywhere I could see.

Just a pretty tree in the park near the carousel.

Some of the pretty light displays throughout the park.

We decided to ride a couple of carnival rides. I was pretty apprehensive about riding one. I generally don't ride the ones that go upside down. This one didn't QUITE go all the way upside down....it appeared....but came very close!!!

Here Heather and I along with Riley, Cameron and Erica wait in line to ride.

On the far side you can see Heather, me and Cameron waiting for the ride to take off.

And away we go!

On another ride. This one spins so fast the walls slide up. I asked the ride operator to hold the camera and to snap a picture. He couldn't figure out how to work the camera so he took this picture after the ride, then told us to stay on and he'd take another one since he figured out the camera! He also let Mathew get back on with us and we all 3 got to ride again for free!

Marty and Heather crossing a bridge under a canopy of lights.

Marty and me wandering around the park.

At the end of the night Santa had already left so we borrowed his sleigh!

Thanks, Erica and Jason for asking us to tag along!!!

Let the Christmas Festivities Begin

It does not seem possible that Christmas is just over a month away! I was not one who braved the malls and shopping centers the day after Thanksgiving. Instead, to kick off the Christmas season we, along with Erica and her kiddos, went out for dinner last night and headed to San Marcos to "Santa's Ranch" to see Christmas lights.

I love the tunnel of lights we drove through.

This carousel is very pretty and I knew Riley would just love it.




Another tunnel of lights.

And of course I love all the lighted gingerbread men everywhere!

The scene inside the car! Say "cheese" for Erica!



Every year near the top of a small hill are these lighted crosses.

I couldn't fit all 3 wisemen in one picture from where the car was.



After looking at the lights we drove over to the outlet mall to meet Jason so he could say hi to his family. He has to work the entire weekend, poor guy! Sorry you couldn't join us Jason!

Awwww....aren't they sweet?

Thanks Erica, Mathew, Cam and Riley for joining us in what has become an annual tradition for our family!



Erica has posted more pictures from our evening over here.